Examination cheating was the leading offence behind disciplinary action against university students in 2025, accounting for 92.9 per cent of all cases reported to the Commission for University Education. A total of 3,017 student disciplinary cases were submitted through the University Education Management Information System (UEMIS) by 65 institutions. This represents a decline from 3,361 cases in 2024. The commission attributed the high cases of exam cheating to various factors, including the use of unauthorized materials and electronic devices during exams.
The Commission for University Education reported that common violations include cheating using unauthorized written materials, possession of electronic devices during examinations, impersonation, and sitting examinations for units in which the student is not duly registered. The report also revealed a seasonal pattern, with the highest monthly volumes recorded during supplementary and main examination periods. June registered the highest number of cases at 481, followed by May with 382.
The commission recommended measures to reduce cheating cases, including stricter supervision, randomized seating, and checks for electronic devices before examinations. According to the report, gross misconduct and other violations were the second-largest category, with 154 cases, representing 5.1 per cent of the total. These cases covered behavior such as disorderly conduct, disobedience of university rules, and actions that bring an institution into disrepute.
The University Statistics Report 2025 also revealed that 40 cases involved theft, robbery, fraud, and forgery, accounting for 1.3 per cent of the total. These included financial fraud, forgery of academic documents, and theft of property on university premises. The commission advised universities to maintain clear reporting channels and work with law enforcement agencies where cases involve suspected criminal conduct.
Other offenses reported in 2025 included drug and substance abuse, which accounted for 12 cases, or 0.4 per cent, while six cases of gender-based violence were reported. The commission cautioned that the low numbers in the two categories should not necessarily be taken as evidence of low incidence, citing challenges in detection and reporting.
The report shows that disciplinary cases have remained considerably higher compared with the 1,476 recorded in 2022, when university operations were still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Fines were the most common sanction in 2025, accounting for 1,953 cases, or 64.7 per cent, followed by 562 cases classified as other sanctions, 304 suspensions, and 198 expulsions.
The Commission for University Education recommended stronger examination-integrity measures, including systematic checks for electronic devices before examinations and randomized seating plans. According to the report, a well-regulated student affairs system promotes accountability, protects academic integrity, and enhances the overall reputation of the university while safeguarding the value of its qualifications.
Key points
- Examination cheating accounted for 92.9% of university disciplinary cases in Kenya in 2025.
- A total of 3,017 student disciplinary cases were reported in 2025, with 2,803 involving examination irregularities.
- The commission recommended measures such as stricter supervision, randomized seating, and checks for electronic devices before examinations to reduce cheating cases.
